Balai Pustaka
Balai Pustaka Balai Pustaka is the state-owned publisher of Indonesia and publisher of major pieces of Indonesian literature such as Salah Asuhan, Sitti Nurbaya and Layar Terkembang. Its head office is in Jakarta. Founded in 1917 as the Kantoor voor de Volkslectuur, Balai Pustaka was used by the Dutch colonial government as a means to control native Indonesians' access to information. After changing hands twice during the Indonesian war of independence, Balai Pustaka formally fell under the ownership of the Indonesian government. As of 2011, it is facing liquidation. On 14 September 1908 the Dutch colonial government established the Commission for People's Education and Reading, later shortened to the Commission for People's Reading (Dutch: Commissie voor de Volkslectuur). Along with the foundation of Boedi Oetama, it served to bring formal education to native Indonesians. At the time, numerous free presses existed, publishing work in either bazaar or Chinese Malay. Th...